ABGs

Question 1

What does pH measure?

Answer 1

The acidity or alkalinity of the blood

Question 2

What does PaCO₂ measure?

Answer 2

The amount of carbon dioxide in the blood

Question 3

What does PaO₂ measure?

Answer 3

The amount of oxygen in the blood

Question 4

What does HCO₃⁻ represent?

Answer 4

The level of bicarbonate in the blood, helps maintain acid-base balance

Question 5

What does SaO₂ represent?

Answer 5

The percentage of hemoglobin bound to oxygen

Question 6

pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 50, HCO₃ 24

Answer 6

Respiratory acidosis

Question 7

pH 7.45, PaCO₂ 38, HCO₃ 24

Answer 7

Normal

Question 8

pH 7.18, PaCO₂ 18, HCO₃ 12

Answer 8

Metabolic acidosis + respiratory alkalosis (partial compensation)

Question 9

pH 7.23, PaCO₂ 40, HCO₃ 16

Answer 9

Metabolic acidosis

Question 10

pH 7.49, PaCO₂ 28, HCO₃ 18

Answer 10

Respiratory alkalosis + metabolic acidosis (mixed disorder)

Question 11

pH 7.55, PaCO₂ 40, HCO₃ 35

Answer 11

Metabolic alkalosis

Question 12

pH 7.20, PaCO₂ 30, HCO₃ 35

Answer 12

Partially compensated metabolic acidosis

Question 13

pH 7.35, PaCO₂ 60, HCO₃ 25

Answer 13

Uncompensated respiratory acidosis

Question 14

If a patient is hyperventilating, how would ABG change?

Answer 14

↓ CO₂ → Respiratory alkalosis

Question 15

In a patient with COPD, what might you expect on ABG?

Answer 15

↑ CO₂, ↓ pH (respiratory acidosis), possible compensation with ↑ HCO₃

Question 16

What is compensation?

Answer 16

Body’s way of fixing pH imbalances

Question 17

How do lungs compensate for metabolic problems?

Answer 17

Blow off or retain CO₂ (fast: minutes–hours)

Question 18

How do kidneys compensate for respiratory problems?

Answer 18

Hold onto or excrete bicarbonate (slow: hours–days)

Question 19

What is uncompensated?

Answer 19

pH abnormal, one system abnormal, other system normal (no help yet)

Question 20

What is partially compensated?

Answer 20

pH abnormal, both CO₂ & HCO₃ abnormal (other system trying)

Question 21

What is fully compensated?

Answer 21

pH normal, both CO₂ & HCO₃ abnormal (balance restored)

Question 22

pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 50, HCO₃ 24

Answer 22

Uncompensated respiratory acidosis

Question 23

pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 32, HCO₃ 23

Answer 23

Respiratory alkalosis

Question 24

pH 7.34, PaCO₂ 50, HCO₃ 30

Answer 24

Partially compensated respiratory acidosis

Question 25

pH 7.52, PaCO₂ 47, HCO₃ 30

Answer 25

Partially compensated metabolic alkalosis

Question 26

pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 28, HCO₃ 22

Answer 26

Respiratory alkalosis

Question 27

pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 40, HCO₃ 16

Answer 27

Metabolic acidosis

Question 28

pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 28, HCO₃ 23

Answer 28

Respiratory alkalosis

Question 29

pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 60, HCO₃ 25

Answer 29

Uncompensated respiratory acidosis